Wire-stretcher



No. 617,!89. Patented Jan. 3, 18199. S. S. SANDERS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

(Application filed May 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

\A' //v VENTOR A TTOHNE SPENCER SIWIITII SANDERS, OF I-IEMLOOK, OHIO.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,189, dated January3, 1899.

Application filedMay 4, 1898. Serial No. 679,684. (No model.)

To 611% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER SMITH SAN- DERs, of Hemlock, in the countyof Perry and State of Ohio, have invented a new and ImprovedTire-Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedwire-stretcher which is simple and durable in construction, moreespecially designed for drawing wire used in building fences tautbetween the posts, and at the same time permitting of convenientlysecuring the wire in place after stretching on the post on which thedevice is applied.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is aplan View of the same with the post in section. Fig. 8 is a rear sideelevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same with partsin a different position, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the sameon the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The improved wire-stretcher is provided with a frame A, preferably madein the shape of a flat bar formed at one end with points A for settingthis end of the bar against one side of the fence-post B, along whichthe wire is to be stretched and to which the wire is to be fastened. Theframe extends in an approximately horizontal position from the post 13in a forward direction, and the outer end of the frame is supported by achain O, extending toward the post 13 and secured thereto on a hook ordog O. The other end of the chain O is adj ustably connected with a lug0 carried on the frame, to bring the latter into a horizontal positionand to prevent the frame from swinging forwardly when the wire is beingstretched.

On the under side of the frame A and near the forward end thereof isarranged a longitudinal guideway A in which is mounted to turn ascrew-rod D, carrying at its outer end a crank-disk E, adapted to betaken hold of by the operator for turning the screwrod D in itsbearings. The screw-rod engages a nut F, mounted to slide longitudinallyin the guideway A and on said nut are formed projections F, connected bychains G with the ends of the handles II of a pair of tongs H, formedwith forwardly-extending jaws H for gripping the wire I to be stretchedalong the post B. The pair of tongs II is so constructed that the pullby the chains G on the handles closes the jaws H to securely grip thewire I, and as the movement of the closed jaws is in line with the wirethe latter is not bent in any way, upon moving the jaws in alongitudinal direction. The wire I fits snugly against the post and isfastened thereto by suitable nails or other means after the wire isdrawn sufficiently taut.

In using the device the frame A is first set up on the side of the post13 in a horizontal position, with the chain 0 fastened to the post asdescribed, and then the crank-arm E is turned to carry the nut F to aninward position, so as to permit of connecting the jaws H with the wireI near the post B. The operator then turns the crank-arm of the disk Ein an inverse direction to cause the screwrod D to move the nut Foutward in the guideway A and the nut in doing so pulls on the chains Gand draws the handles II of the pair of tongs H together to close thejaws 1-1 and thereby firmly grip the wire I in the said jaws I1 and uponfurther movement of the nut F the wire is drawn along with the chainsand tongs, so as to properly stretch the wire in front of the post. issufficiently stretched, it is fastened to the post as described. In casethe wire is not sufficiently stretched at the time the nut engages theoutermost end of the guideway A then use is made of a clamp J, carriedon the frame A and formed with two jaws J J the jaw J being integralwith the frame and the jaw J 2 being carried on a clamping-bolt J held011 the said frame. The wire I passes loosely between the jaws, and whenit is desiredto obtain a new grip on the wire by the tongsH then theoperator screws the clamp ing-nut F inward to clamp the Wire I betweenthe jaws J and J of the clamp .I. \Vhen this has been done, the disk Eis turned in the inverse direction to allow the tongs to be opened torelease the wire I. The nut F is When the wire run to the innermost endof the guideway A and then the tongs are again engaged with their jawson the wire I close to the post 13, the chains G being in a stretchedposition. The clamp J is now opened to release the wire I from the jawsJ J and then the operator turns the crank-disk E again to move the nut Ffor stretching the wire a second time in the manner above described.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the device is very simple anddurable in construction, consists of but few parts, is not liable to getout of order, and is readily set up on the side of the fence-post, so asto be completely out of the range of the wires already stretched.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A wire-stretcher, comprising a frame, a nutmovable in guides in said frame, a screw engaging the nut, tongs forgripping the wire, and connections between the nut and the two arms ofthe tongs, whereby when the nut is moved in one direction the tongs willbe tightened on the wire, and when the nut is moved in the oppositedirection the tongs will be released from the wire, substantially asspecified.

2. A wire-stretcher, provided with a frame adapted to be set against oneside of a fencepost and extend in a horizontal direction therefrom, anda pairof jaws arranged transversely on said frame, and adapted totemporarily clamp the wire in place and then reset the stretcher for asecond stretching of the wire, substantially as shown and described.

SPENCER SMITH SANDERS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE SWEENY, JOHN F. SANDERS.

